Breaking down Ohio State Buckeyes offensive tackle Josh Simmons ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Usayd Koshul
(Photo: 247Sports)
With NFL Free Agency officially in its twilight stages, all 32 franchises across the league have shifted their focus to the 2025 NFL Draft. The Chicago Bears will be one of the most active teams on draft weekend, and with four picks inside the top 75, general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson will have plenty of opportunities to add quality talent to the roster.
The front office decided to allocate a lot of resources to the offensive line this offseason. Before the start of free agency, Chicago acquired veterans Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney via trade and signed center Drew Dalman to a three-year deal in the opening hours of free agency.
A revamped interior has generated some excitement but with the No. 10 overall pick, the Bears could still add to the offensive line. Braxton Jones is coming off a season-ending injury and heading into the last year of his deal.
If the front office wants to upgrade left tackle, one of the most intriguing names to watch will be Ohio State Buckeyes offensive tackle Josh Simmons, an athletic and versatile player who could step in and provide an instant spark for the Bears new-look offensive line.
Let's get into our scouting report on Simmons.
Josh Simmons, Ohio State, (6-foot-5, 317 pounds)
From his NFL.com draft profile via Lance Zierlein:
"An athletic tackle prospect with adequate size and length, Simmons has experience starting on both sides. He suffered a season-ending knee injury in mid-October, so his recovery and timetable for return will need to be vetted. He's a consistently fluid mover both inside the box and when asked to play in space, and he has the slide quickness to compete against NFL edge speed. He's more positional than powerful in completing his run-blocking tasks, but he can fit into all schemes. Improved hand placement and latch-in strength can help better control opponents in both the run and pass games. Simmons can still be susceptible to twists and counters in pass pro, so he might need a year to continue honing his craft in that area before he is ready to take on NFL pocket hunters."
Film:
Strengths:
- Able to keep moving his feet and driving when finishing blocks.
- Has experience playing both left tackle and right tackle.
- Excellent movement ability when he gets out into space.
- Has a completely natural feel for the game.
- Physical play style is easy to spot on tape as a player who will impact the game as a run blocker and pass protector.
- Incredibly strong anchor in pass protection.
- Has no issues being placed on an island and going one-on-one with edge rushers.
Weaknesses:
- Needs to add some additional upper body strength to his frame.
- Season-ending knee injury which he sustained in October could be a cause for concern.
- Hand placement tends to be inconsistent at times.
- Needs to play with a little bit more body control in order to really take his game to the next level.
- Struggles to recognize the twists and blitzes that a defensive line will throw at him.
Final Thoughts:
Had Simmons 2024 season not ended with a gruesome injury, it'd be likely that he's being talked about as the top offensive lineman prospect ahead of April's draft. But the tape still shows a player who is going to be a multi-year starter at the NFL level, and a player who will win due to his versatility and athleticism.
If the Bears do decide to trade out of No. 10 overall, Simmons could be a very intriguing prospect to add, depending on how far down the board the front office decides to move. But like his counterparts in this draft class, if he is selected by the Bears in round one, he'll end up playing left tackle because left guard and right tackle are already occupied by Joe Thuney and Darnell Wright, setting the stage for what could wind up being an intriguing decision regarding the future of Braxton Jones.
Part of the conversation will also be figuring out if Simmons can provide a significant upgrade in play over veteran Braxton Jones as a rookie. And if the front office and coaching staff determine that he can, then he should be one of the top names on the board.
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